FEATURE: Fraud rings move into Southeast Asia

MOVING ON:A cross-strait crime-fighting pact signed in 2009 has helped drive Taiwanese crime gangs out of China and into Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam

By Amber Wang / AFP, TAIPEI

Fraud rings usually pick young people who have never gone abroad, speak no English and are from humble backgrounds like Chen’s son so they are more easily manipulated, he said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on the other hand, has said many young people arrested in Thailand were aware of the nature of their “job,” but fell for the fat salaries and luxury houses promised by fraud rings.

Chen, however, insisted that her son fell victim to a scam.

“He is a simple young man looking for a job, but now he will forever have a criminal record. I dare not think how he is going to spend 12 years in a jail abroad,” said Chen, who is appealing her son’s case.